Paxton distances himself from anti-IVF plank adopted by Texas GOP

Since a divisive Texas GOP platform plank targeting IVF was approved as a top legislative priority for 2027, questions have loomed about whether high-ranking conservatives would embrace the position. 

Attorney General Ken Paxton’s stance appears to be no. 

“Every child is a blessing, and every family hoping to welcome a child deserves support and compassion. I am a strong supporter of IVF and pro-family policies that help Americans experience the wonders of parenthood,” Paxton said in a statement to The Texas Tribune.

His comments align with President Donald Trump’s ongoing support for IVF, despite a growing conservative movement to classify common IVF practices as the “destruction” of human life.

With a highly consequential U.S senate race for Paxton hanging in the balance, the divergence highlights a growing divide within Republican politics as the party gets closer to midterm elections. 

The process of in vitro fertilization involves fertilizing eggs in a lab and transferring a viable embryo into the uterus. Embryos that are viable but not selected for pregnancy can be frozen for future use, donated or in some instances discarded with parental consent. 

In a report written by Dr. Cynthia Murdock, a staff physician and a fertility specialist at Illume Fertility, embryo attrition is “completely normal and expected” throughout the IVF process. On average, approximately 30 to 50 percent of fertilized eggs make it to the final stage where implantation can occur, per Murdock’s findings.  

Yet, rooted in the belief that life begins at fertilization and embryos should have legal protections, anti-IVF advocates argue that the process of “discarding” non-viable embryos is considered “homicidal” and “destructive” to human life. 

“They grade the children, and they destroy the ones that don’t grade high enough,” said Bradley Pierce, president of Abolish Abortion Texas during the Texas GOP convention held in Houston last weekend. “These homicidal practices are what this language is all about.”

Pierce’s comments are aligned with a growing network of “fetal personhood” activists, many of whom played a central role in advancing the anti-IVF language during the convention. 

“This was the first time abolitionists had won a floor debate at the Convention, and the win decisively proved that the conservative grassroots in Texas demand equal protection for preborn babies,” Abolish Abortion Texas wrote in a statement on its website. 

The comments also show a fracture within the party, calling internal support for IVF with guardrails an “unprecedented Pro-Life establishment attack.” 

Despite growing grassroot support, the cause has found far less support among the party’s highest-profile elected officials.

In addition to Paxton, both President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz have publicly defended IVF access. 

Following a 2024 Alabama Supreme Court ruling that temporarily threw fertility treatments into uncertainty, Cruz introduced legislation aimed at protecting access to IVF, calling the procedure a “blessing” for families struggling with infertility.

Meanwhile, Trump has recently worked to expand IVF access, introducing a proposal in May that gave employers the option to offer standalone, voluntary fertility coverage for procedures like IVF, similar to existing dental and vision benefits. 

Overall, the divide underscores a recurring challenge for Texas Republicans as they seek to balance the priorities of far-right members of the party, with stances that are more favorable among a broader voter base.